Type and type-distributing mechanism



E. G. MERGENTHALER, DECD.

SAFE pEPoslT AND TRUST COMPANY or BALTIMORE AND H. c. MERGENTHALER, Exzcuroas,

TYPE AND TYPE DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION man SEPT.25. 191a. RENEWED APR. 13, 1920.

1 ,359 ,5 18 Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

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SAFE DEPOSIT AND TRUST COMPANY OF BALTIMORE AND H. C. MERGENTHALER. EXECUTORS- TYPE AND TYPE DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.25- I9I8. RENEWED APR. I3. I920.

1,359,513 1 8. Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

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4 E. G. MERGENTHALER, DECD.

SHE DEPOSIT AND TFIUST COMPANY or BALTIMORE AND H. c. MERGENTHALEI'I, EXECUTORS.

TYPE AND TYPE DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED sEPT.25. 1918. RENEWED APR. 13. 1920. 1,359,518.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

UNITE STATES 'FAENT OFFICE.

G. MERGENTHALER, 0F BALTIMCRE, MARYLAND; SAFE DEPOSIT AND TRUST COMPANY OF BALTIMORE AND HEEIR'LQN 0. IVEERGENTHALEB, EXECUTORS 0F SAID EUGENE G. IIIERGENTHALER, DECEASED, ASSIGNORS OF (ENE-HALF TO SAFE DE- POSIT AND TEUST GUIVJIPANY OF BALTIIVEGRE, TRUSTEE, AND ONE-HALF T0 HER- MAN 0. MERGENTHALER.

TYPE AND TYPE-DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23,1920.

Application filed'september 25, 1918, Serial No. 255,690. Renewed April 13, 1920. Serial No. 373,537.

0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE G. MERGEN- 'rirALnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, State of Mary land, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Type and Type-Distributing Mechanism, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a partof the same.

This invention relates to improvements 1n distributing mechanism for linotype ma chines and particularly to secondary or font distributing mechanisms therefor, that is to say, mechanisms designed, after the primary distribution of type or matrices according to character, to make a further distribution thereof according to the case, size or other variations in the characters.

It also relates to improvements in matrices designed for use with such mechanisms.

For convenience the improvements of the present invention are illustrated and described herein inconnection with the well known Mergenthaler linotype machines, but it is to be understood that the present improvements are applicable to other machines.

in the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is an end elevation of a distributing mechanism embodying the improvements of the present invention in their pre ferr d form.

1 2 is a horizontal section (partly broken away) on the line 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a horizontal section on the line of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section thereof on the line 5 of Fig. 3. y

6 is a section on the line 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the matrices. V

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illusi- "ported in the side frames (not shown) of the machine, and a set of feed screws 3, l, 5,

,journaled in brackets 6, 7, depending from blocks 2, and which engage and feed the matrices along the bar 1. The matrices are toothed for engagement with the ribs 011 bar 1 and their teeth and these ribs are so permuted with relation to each other that as the matrices reach certain positions lengthwise of the bar, determined by the charaoter they hear, they are released by anddrop from the bar. In single font machines they pass thence to their respective channels in a magazine. In multiple magazine machines there are two distributing operations, namely, a primary one according to font or character, and a secondary one, according to character or font, the matrices sodistributed passing into their proper channels .in their respective magazines;

The primary distributing mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 6 is like that in common use in linotype machines. The drive therefor is, however, different from that'usually employed, being such as to secure a step-by step movement, instead of a continuous movement, of the matrices along the dis tributing bar 1. F or this purpose there are provided a driving pulley 1O (driven from any suitable source of power) fixed to a shaft 11 journaled in lateral extensions 12 of brackets 63, a segmental gear 18 fixed to shaft 11, a broad faced intermediate 1%, gears 15, 16 meshing therewith and fixed to distributcr screws 3, 5, and gear 17 fixed to distributor screw 4-.

From this construction it results that during the first half revolution of pulley 10 and its shaft 11 (in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1) segmental gear 13 will rotate'inter- Vinent no more than one matrix of gears 15, 16.,

mediate id, and, through it, gears 15, 16, 17, and their screws 3, i, 5, thus feeding the matrices along bar 1, and that during the second half revolution of pulley 10 and its shaft 11, the segmental gear 13 being out of mesh with intermediate le there will be no rotation of gears l5, l6, 1'? therefore no movement of the matrices the movement of the matrices along bar 1 being thus a step-by-step movement. 7 During these movements the matrices are distributed into groups, according to character, and the type of these groups are then redistributed according to case or font.

The parts of this stepby'sten mechanism are so arrangedand timed rela .cly to other, that on. each step or turni movement of the distributing; screws 3 5, the string of matrices suspended. from Ctls'tllblliw ing bar 1 will be moved longitudinally of the bar a distance equal to the hiclrnessof matrix; so that on each such turning movebearing; the same character will he di and dropped from bar 1. lhis is ior the purpose of providing, for the accurate feeding or movement of the riatrices as thus primarily distributed to the font or secondar distributing mechanism 18 hereinafter described.

To avoid overthrow or continued ro t H 17, and therefore 7 tributing screws 3, l, 5, when segmental gear runs out of mesh with inte i 1 r An Bria/i1.

14- 1 a positive stop is provided for then on gaging said intermediate and looking: it against movement, This consists of: a latch or pawl 20 pivoted in ear 21 projecting from one of the bracket extensions and the nose of which pawl is adapted to engage a pin 22 projecting laterally rrein intermediate let. The movement of this pawl into and'ou-t of engagement with the pin 22., the segmental gear 13 runs out of and into mesh with intermediate 1 eifected by a cam 23 fixed to shaft 11, and a the tail. of the pawl. This cam is so ar relatively to the toothed portion of mental gear 13 that as the latter meshes with intermediate le this cain will engage the tail of the pawl and move its nose out of engagement with the pin 22 shown in Fig. 1 while assegmental gear 13 passes out of mesh with intermediate l l, cam 23 will he disengaged from the tail of pawl 20, the nose of which will then drop into the path of movement of ear; said pin and thus lock intermediate lei; ainst furtherrotation, in which position will co tinue until cam 23, at the end of the half revolution which segmental gear is then malrin again engages the tail of pawl 20 and moves the latter out of engagement with pin 22. I

Beneath and extending longitudinally of V and provided er's 32 resting upon table 25, on

this trade and said bar there is also provided ainatrix guiding frame 26, open at top and bottom with front and rear plates between the latter with transsuitably dise s t v i 1 :1 sw'v tancet apar to piovice manic-i guiding; channelsBO for the matrices hey drop from l. The frame is suitably sunported 1n the frame of the machine with its channels 30 111 proper position 27., 28 and verse vertical partitions with relation to bar 1 for the matrices which they are respectively designed to receive. iese partitions andchannel extend downwardly toward table 2;) so as to properly support the matrices in an upright position thereon, as shown. in Fig l.

On one side of the table 25 is is pro vided a matrix feeding or moving; 1116Cl1t1- nism and on the other a font-:distilmting mechanism to which are fed or moved by it the groups of distributed matrices as they drop from bar 1.

Theffeedinp; or moving nechanisni consists of a plurality of recpr e each of the channels 30. 7 These pushers areconnected with a rod 33provided at its opposite ends with hloclrs 3% adapted to be moved back and forth in guideways Rod 33 is connected ov a link 36with one end of a bell crank lever 37 pivoted in one of the hraclret extensions 12 and the opposite end of which is provided'witl' a bowl 38 entering a cam groove 39 in the face of a dish to shaftll, as best shown in Fig, 1

As the parts ar shown in'Fig. l, the pushers 32 are in their forward position, that is to say, projectedacross tl hle through channels 30, from which th ,7 have moved any matrices present therein into the font or secondary distributing mechanism "At this time, as well as during such forward movement of the pusher-s 32, the dis tributing screws 3, l, 5 are station I and there is, tlierefore no movement 5: dis tributing bar 1 of the string of matrices suspended therefrom. As segmental rotates from this position (in the directi a of the arrow :l ig. 1) it meshes with, for a'half revolution continues in mesh with intermediate 14; thus rotating screws 5% 4;,

5 and moving the string of matrices along bar 1 a distance equal to the thickness of a ocatinrg pushfor moving such matrices frointhese channels into the font or secondary distributing mechanism. The bell crank 37 and pusher-s 32 remain in this position until this half revolution of segmental gear 13 is about completed, when the cam 39 will move them in the opposite direction so that the pushers will move the matrices then deposited in channels into the font or secondary dis tributing mechanism. In other words, dur ing one half a revolution of segmental gear 13 the matrices are moved along bar 1 a distance equal to the thickness of a matrix and the pushers 32 are moved rearwardly or out of the channels 30, while during the next half revolution of gear 13 there is no movement of the matrices along bar 1 and the pushers 32 are moved forward or projected across table 25 and through the channels 30 to move therefrom and into the font or sec ondary distributing mechanism such matrices as may have dropped therein; and so on. The movement of pushers 32 is such that they will move the matrices from chan nels 30 and also move them in the font distributer a distance equal to the width of a matrix.

The font or secondary distributing mechanism 18 which is suitably supported in the machine, comprises side plates 45, 4L6, and, between the latter, rails 47 providing matrix guides equal in number to the several groups of matrices from bar 1. These rails 17 are designed to receive the matrices from table 25 and for this purpose they register with the partitions 29 and are suitably spaced apart to provide channels 17 registering with the channels 30, While the upper edges of said rails occupy a position in line, horizontally, with the upper ends of the matrices as they rest on said table.

This font or redistributing mechanism 18 has been designed particularly with the present-day linotype machine in mind and it will be observed that it canreadily be applied to such machines. The rail arrangement in it has also been devised with the present-clay linotype matrices in mind so that such matrices may be used therewith with but little change in the structure, the only change required being the cutting away of a small amount of the metal horizontally and vertically on opposite sides of the ma trix near its upper ends to provide channels 48 the upper walls of which consist of a plurality of shoulders 49, there being preferably a pair of such shoulders on each side of the matrix. Thelower walls 50 of channels 18, inside the bases of the shoulders, constitute guides for the matrices, toprevent tilting thereof, while moving along the rails 47, which are designed to enter these channels as the matrices are delivered from table 25, while the shoulders 49, coacting with corresponding type-releasing openings 51 in rails 47, determine the distri bution of the matrices into their respective fonts.

The shoulders 49 are of different thicknesses or different distances apart, or both, in different matrices of the same character or group, as indicated in Fig. 3; in other words, the shoulders are differently disposed relatively to each other on the several matrices of a group.

The shoulders 49 do not extend beyond but are undercut or flush with the sides of the type so that the thickness of any of the matrices is not increased or decreased. Therefore, present-day matrices may readily be altered to provide the channels 48 and shoulders, or new matrices may be made with them, without the necessity of any changes in the construction of or methods ofposition in linotype machines now in use.

The openings 51 in the rails 47 are arranged in sets longitudinally of the rails,

corresponding in number of sets and in relative widths and separation to the shoulders 19 on the matrices.

From this it results that as the matrices are moved along the rails 47 the latter will retain them (suspended by their shoulders 49) until they reach their respective matrix or type releasing openings 51 when the shoulders 4L9 will be released from the rails 47 and the matrices so released will drop therefrom into guidingtubes 52 leading to their respective magazines. The walls 50 of the channels 48 in the matrices, with the shoulders 49, prevent tilting and consequent jamming of the matrices on the railsaT. These walls 50 need not be continuous, as shown, although it is most convenient to so make them.

In the construction shown in Figs. 8 to 10, the movement of the matrices along the bar 1 is continuous, instead of step-by-step as in Figs. 1 to 6, and the movement of the matrices from table 25 into the font distributer 18 is accomplished by belts 55, 56. The gears 15, 16, 17 of feed screws 3, 4:, 5, are driven by a gear 57, which is in turn driven from some suitable source of power (not shown). Belt 55, which is mounted on pulleys 58, 59, is driven'by gear 16 through an intermediate engaging a gear 61 fixed to the shaft of pulley 58, and performs the function of moving the matrices from table 25 into the secondary distributer 18. Belt 56, which is mounted on pulleys 62, 63, is driven by gear 17 through an intermediate 6 1 meshing with a gear65 fixed to the shaft of pulley 62, and performs the function of feeding the matrices through the secondary distributer 18 as they are deliv ered thereto by the belt 55.

For convenience I have used the word matrix herein, but'it is to be understood that I include herein any type whether insaid shoulders with guides to tae lio or cameo, and :tor this reason I use the word type in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a plurality of type provided on their sides with undercut distributing shoulders differently arranged on the several type and beyond the bases of said shoulders with guides to prevent tilting of the type during distribution, of a distributing member enacting with said guides and shoulders and provided with type-releasing openingsconforming to the latter.

2. The combination with a plurality of type each provided on both of its sides with undercut distributing shoulc ers dilierently ar anged on the several type and beyond the bases of said shoulders with guides to prevent tilting of the type during distribution, ot' a pair of distributing members arranged to embrace the type and coacting with said guides and shoulders and provided with typereleasing openings conforming to the latter. 7

3. The combination with a plurality of type provided on their sides with undercut distributing shoulders differently arranged on the several type and beyond the bases of said shoulders with guides to prevent tilting oi the type during distribution, of a distributing member coacting with said guides and shoulders and provided with type-releasing openings conforming to the latter, and mechanism for moving the type along the distributing, member.

4. The combination. with a plurelity of type each provided on both of its sides with undercut distributing shoulders differently arranged on the several type and beyond the bases of said shoulders with guides to prevent tilting of the type during distribution, of a pair of distributing members arranged to embrace the type and eoacting with said guides and shoulders and provided with type-releasing openings conforming to the latter, and mechanism for moving the type along the distributing members.

5. The combination with a set of type having suitable selecting means for their primary distribution into groups and provided on their sides with undercut distributing shoulders dilferently arranged on the several type of each group and beyond the bases of prevent tilting of the type during distribution, of primary distributing mechanism coacting with the first-named selecti means to distribute the 7 type into groups, and a distributing member coacting with, said guides and shoulders and provided with type-releasing openings conforming to the latter.

6. The combination with a set of type having suitable selecting means for their primary distribution into groups and provided on both of its sides with undercut .to prevent tilting of the type during distributing shoulders differently arranged. on the several "ype of each groin and beyond the bases of said shoulders with guides to prevent tilting of the type during distribution, of primary distributing mechanism enacting with the first-named selecting means to distribute the type intogroups, and a pair 7 of distributing members for each group of type arranged to embrace the type and coacting with said guides and shoulders and provided with type-releasing openings conforming to the latter.

7 The combination with a set of type havsuitable selecting means for their primary distribution into groups and provided on their sides with undercut distributng shoulders dilierently arranged on the several type oi? each group and beyond the bases of said shoulders with guides to prevent tilting of the type during distribution, of primary distributing mechanism enacting with the first-named selecting means to distribute the type into groups. a distributing member enacting with said guides andshe'ulders and provided with type-releasing openings conforming to the latter, and mechanism for moving the type from the primary distributing mechanism to and along said distributing guides.

8 The combination with a set of type having suitable selecting means for their primary distribution into groups and proviued on both of its sides with undercut distributing shoulders differently arranged on the several type of each group and yond the'bases oi. said shoulders with guides distrihution of primary distributing mechanism coacting with the first-named selecting means to distribute the type into groups, pair ct distributing members for each group of type arranged to embrace the type and coacting with said guides and'si'ioulders and provided v'ith type-releasing openings conforming to the latter, and mechanism for moving the type from theprlmary distributing mechanism toand along said distributing guides. I p

9. A set of type provided with two selecting devices for their primary and secondary distribution, one set comprising undercut shoulders on the sides of the type,

and guides beyond the bases oi said shoulders '10. A set of type provided with two sets.

of selecting devices for their primary and E GENE e; MERG'ENTHALER. 

